A.J. Burnett enjoying new life away from the spotlight, in Pittsburgh

Charles LeClaire/US PresswireA.J. Burnett, traded by the Yankees this past offseason to the Pirates, said he has found comfort in Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH — A gift arrived recently for Pirates starter A.J. Burnett. The package included a suit, a form of payback from Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, who Burnett bought a few suits for back in 2009, when Burnett was in the first season of a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

During these next two seasons, the Yankees will pay Burnett about $18 million to pitch elsewhere. He exchanges text messages with CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova, two men he once formed part of a rotation with. He keeps his ring from the 2009 World Series, when his performance in Game 2 proved pivotal, inside his closet. And he knows “the guy they got (Michael Pineda) went down.”

Otherwise, he embodies the clichés of post-Yankee life. His face has stubble. A pair of fishing rods were propped up in his locker. He appreciates not being hounded constantly by fans about his performance. And he said he feels a levity, a lack of internal pressure, which he believes affected him in the Bronx.

“It’s completely different,” he said. “I can go out there and do what I want, how I want, when I want to. If I want to turn around upside down, I can do it — as long as I throw a strike. It was always the pressure I put on myself to do so good. And now, I’m just out there, just doing it.”

He added, “My first start, I walked the bases loaded here. I can’t even imagine what that place (Yankee Stadium) would have sounded like over there, and there was maybe like two words that came out of the crowd here. So it’s just different.”

In New York, the criticism could be instant. “I’d get 3-0 on the first batter, and you’d hear a bunch of people,” he said. “I’m like ‘Hey, I walked nine in a game, and I did okay.’ ”

Burnett (2-2, 4.78 ERA) was referencing, of course, his no-hitter in 2001 with the Marlins. Pitching once again in the National League, Burnett has done well for Pittsburgh. Save for a brutal, 12-run start early on, his ERA would be 2.06. He missed the first few weeks of the season after fracturing his orbital bone during a bunting drill in spring training.

“That’s a way to start off with a new team, huh?” he said.

When he signed with the Yankees, his reputation carried the “effectively wild” label. After a credible campaign in 2009, Burnett’s effectiveness decreased in 2010 and 2011. During those two seasons, he carried the second-highest ERA of any qualified pitcher, a 5.20 mark beaten only by Boston’s John Lackey. He was the fourth-most walk-prone pitcher among qualified starters.

The atmosphere didn’t help, he said. Some players, like Sabathia, thrive due to their ability to shut out distractions. Others don’t.

“I had my good times there, though” Burnett said. “I don’t regret it at all. I don’t. I regret not performing better.”

The Yankees spent their offseason attempting to upgrade their rotation. They signed Hiroki Kuroda. They traded for Pineda. With what appeared to be a surplus in hand, they shipped Burnett out. In February, as Burnett drove from his home in Maryland to spring training, the Yankees reached an agreement with the Pirates.

Now, of course, the Yankees are reeling. Pineda is out for the year. Kuroda has been inconsistent. The offense shuts down with runners in scoring position. They entered last night’s game with a .500 record.

One old teammate said there wasn’t reason to worry, though.

“I’m sure they’ll do fine once they put it together,” Burnett said. “Nobody’s going to bat 1.000. Nobody’s going to win every game. So they’re a pretty good squad over there. I think they’ll be okay.”